What distinguishes a temperate phage from other phages?

A temperate phage is distinguished by its ability to integrate its genome into the host's DNA, establishing a lysogenic cycle. In this cycle, the phage DNA becomes a prophage, which can remain dormant within the host genome for an extended period. This integration allows the phage to replicate along with the host cell during cell division without causing immediate lysis. The ability to alternate between lysogenic and lytic cycles gives temperate phages significant evolutionary advantages, such as potential immunity to superinfection and the ability to contribute genetic material to the host through horizontal gene transfer.

Other options either describe characteristics of different types of phages or do not accurately represent temperate phages. For example, temperate phages are not exclusively lytic; they can exhibit both lytic and lysogenic behaviors. They do not only infect plants, as many temperate phages specifically target bacterial cells. Additionally, indicating that a temperate phage is a type of bacterium is incorrect, as phages are viruses that infect bacteria, not bacteria themselves.